2012 Kia Soul
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 514 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 5th highest complaint count among 16 Soul model years with reports.
Of the 2012 reports, 25 involved a crash and 23 involved a fire. 25 people were injured and 2 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, control unit/modulePark outsideSep 25, 2023
Kia America, Inc. (Kia) is recalling certain 2010-2019 Borrego, 2014-2016 Cadenza, 2010-2013 Forte, Forte Koup, Sportage, 2015-2018 K900, 2011-2015 Optima, 2011-2013 Optima Hybrid, Soul, 2012-2017 Rio, 2011-2014 Sorento, and 2010-2011 Rondo vehicles. The Hydraulic Electronic Control Unit (HECU) may experience an electrical short, which can result in an engine compartment fire while parked or driving.
An engine compartment fire while parked or driving can increase the risk of injury.
Owners are advised to park outside and away from structures until the recall repair is complete. Dealers will replace the HECU fuse, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed November 14, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed March 29, 2024 through June 18, 2024. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC284.
Campaign 23V652000 on NHTSA.gov
EngineFeb 22, 2019
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain 2012-2016 Kia Soul vehicles equipped with 1.6L Gasoline Direct Injection (GDI) engines. High exhaust gas temperatures may damage the catalytic converter, possibly resulting in abnormal engine combustion and damage to one or more of the engine's pistons and possible piston connecting rod failure.
Piston damage may result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. A broken connecting rod may puncture the engine block allowing engine oil to escape. The leaking oil may contact the exhaust, increasing the risk of a fire.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will upgrade the Catalytic Overheating Protection Engine Control Unit logic to prevent overheating of the catalytic converter. In addition, the catalytic converter will also be replaced if it has been damaged. Depending on the extent of any damage, the engine may also be replaced, free of charge. The recall began April 17, 2019. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC176.
Campaign 19V120000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsDec 29, 2014
Kia Motors America (Kia) is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Kia Soul vehicles manufactured January 8, 2009, to October 2, 2013, equipped with a sun roof. A headliner plate may detach during deployment of the curtain air bag.
A detached headliner plate may increase the risk of injury to the occupant during a vehicle crash.
Kia will notify owners, and dealers will install industrial adhesive strips to secure the headliner plates, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 2, 2015. Owners may contact Kia customer service at 1-800-333-4542. Kia's number for this recall is SC112.
Campaign 14V822000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
514 reports, newest first.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, May 16, 2018
CAR WOULD NOT START, IT WAS FOUND THAT THE WIRE COVERS AND WIRES WERE DISINIGRATED. IT WAS TAKEN TO SHOP AND REPAIRED. THEN TWO WEEKS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN, THEN AGAIN ON 5/10/18 THE CAR WOULD NOT START AGAIN. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO SHOP AND MECHANIC HAD ADVISED THAT IT WAS THE SAME ISSUE BUT DIFFERENT LOCATION, THIS TIME WAS WORSE AND WAS TOLD THAT IF THE VEHICLE WOULD HAVE STARTED THAT IT WOULD HAVE POSSIBLY CAUGHT ON FIRE AND ENDANGERING THE SAFETY TO MYSELF AND OTHER OCCUPANTS. WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT KIA USES A SOY BASED PEANUT OIL COATING FOR THE WIRES. HE INFORMED THAT THIS WOULD ATTRACT ANIMALS. I HAVE SPENT OVER $900 FOR THESE REPAIRS. THE MECHANIC ADVISED THAT KIA IS AWARE OF THIS AND THERE ARE NO RECALLS AS FAR AS HE IS AWARE OF.
Steering, May 10, 2018
THE STEERING BECAME VERY LOOSE AND STARTED CLANKING WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED IN EITHER DIRECTION WHILE IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET TRAVELLING AT LESS THAN 40 MPH. THE CAR HAD LESS THAN 80K MILES ON IT AT THE TIME.
Steering, May 8, 2018
STEERING WHEEL COUPLER FAILURE. STEERING WHEEL MAKE CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION.
Steering, Exterior lighting, May 4, 2018
I RECENTLY NOTICED WHEN STOPPED THAT THE STEERS NO WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN STEER NO LEFT TO RIGHT AND BACK AGAIN AND HAS A LITTLE PLAY LIKE IT'S NOT CATCHING. ALSO I RECENTLY HAD BRAKE LIGHTS REPLACED AND IT QUICKLY BURNED OUT ON THE BOTTOM HALF OF THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LIGHT.
Steering, May 3, 2018
AT 58,000 MILES THE SOUL STARTED TO MAKE A CREAKING SOUND WHEN TURNING WHEEL SHARPLY TO RIGHT OR LEFT. I TOOK IT IN TO KIA SERVICE AT KIA WEST IN ORLANDO. THEY DIAGNOSED THAT RACK AND PINION WAS DEFECTIVE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED = $997.09 (INCLUDING THE ALIGNMENT IT NEEDED AFTERWARDS) -- I KNOW THE 2013 KIA SOULS WERE RECALLED FOR SAFETY FOR THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM AND EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS - KIA HAS NOT RECALLED THE 2012 KIA SOUL FOR RACK AND PINION DEFECTS.
Steering, Apr 11, 2018
"CLUNKING" PLAY IN STEERING BEGAN RECENTLY WHICH IS REPORTEDLY FAILURE OF THE STEERING COUPLER.. KIA RECALLED 2014-26 TWICE AND THERE IS AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR REPLACEMENT OF OPTION 11-14 OPTIMA'S .. NOTHING FOR 2012 SOUL EXCEPT WEB PAGES OF COMPLAINTS OF SAME PROBLEM. CROSS REFERENCING THE PART NUMBERS SHOWS THAT ALL THESE VEHICLES, INCLUDING MODELS OUTSIDE THEIR RECALL, USE THE SAME PART YET KIA IS TELLING 2012 OWNERS TO PAY FOR IT OUT OF POCKET.. THIS SAFETY HAZARD AND A FAILURE BY THE MANUFACTURER THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY.
Steering, Apr 10, 2018
WHEN STOPPED THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE WHEN MOVE FROM RIGHT TO LEFT AND BACK.. WHILE DRIVING HAS A BACK AND FORTH CLUNKING MOVEMENT FELLING AS IF THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVE OVER A ROAD LACED WITH SMALL BUMPS IN IT. IT WOULD APPEAR THAT THE MDPS FLEX COUPLING HAS DETERIORATED AND PRESENTS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. THE 2014 KIA SOUL WAS RECALLED FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM.THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE THREATENING ISSUE.
Steering, Apr 7, 2018
MY VEHICLE STARTED MAKING A CLUNKING/CLICKING SOUND FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL RIGHT OR LEFT. THE NOISE/SOUND QUICKLY STARTED GETTING LOUDER IN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME/MILEAGE. THE STEERING ALSO STARTED GETTING LOOSER AS THE SOUND INCREASED. THIS OCCURRED BOTH WHILE SETTING STILL OR WHILE IN MOTION. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD TO REPLACE A FAULTY STEERING COUPLER (56315-2KOOOFFF) FOR ABOUT $225.00. AFTER THE REPLACEMENT THE SOUND/NOISE AND LOOSENESS ARE GONE.
Steering, Apr 7, 2018
FLEXIBLE COUPLING IS DAMAGED, STEERING WHEEL NOISY, RATTLING NOISE, WORRY ABOUT SAFETY STEERING MIGHT NOT WORK AND CAUSE ACCIDENT OR DEATH DUE TO MALFUNCTION. WENT TO DEALERSHIP AND TOLD ME IT WOULD COST $200.00 AND IT IS LIKELY THAT IT WOULD DO IT AGAIN. VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH KIA VEHICLES , DEFINITELY WOULD NEVER BUY A KIA VEHICLE AGAIN.
Steering, Mar 21, 2018
STEERING NOISE CAUSED BE A BAD PIECE IN STEERING LINKAGE. PLASTIC PIECE WHICH MAKES STEERING LOOSE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF STEERING. KIA ADMITTED TO ME IT'S A PROBLEM WHICH IS COMMON. BUT NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY AFTER 50.00 MILES. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND THEY ARE AWARE OF IT. IT DEMANDS A RECALL FOR SAFETY REASONS. IT ALSO IS ON HYUNDI PRODUCTS. SAFETY ISSUE! FACTORY AWARE OF DANGER! RECALL MANDATED!
Steering, Mar 8, 2018
KNOCKING SOUND WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY TO EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. I WAS TOLD IT IS A BAD COUPLER WITHIN THE STEERING COLUMN THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT WILL PROBABLY BECOME A RECALL BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAS HAD MANY CUSTOMERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE.
Steering, Feb 26, 2018
STEERING WHEEL LOOSE AND CLICKING WHILE DRIVING. FELT LOOSE WHILE STATIONERY. LOCAL AUTO SHOP REPLACED MDPS FLEX COUPLING. IT WAS TOTALLY WORN OUT. CAR HAD LESS THAN 37,000 MILES. APPARENTLY 2014 VEHICLES WERE RECALLED FOR THIS.
Steering, Feb 20, 2018
I AM SHY OF HITTING 80K MILES ON MY SOUL 79795 TO BE EXACT. I HAVE NOTICED THAT WITHIN THE PAST COUPLE OF WEEKS MY STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN 'CLICKING' WHETHER IN A STATIONARY POSITION OR IN MOTION. HOW IS THERE NO RECALL OR TSB ON THIS AS I HAVE BEEN DOING MY RESEARCH AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS VEHICLES WITH THIS ISSUE! THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN!! I HAVE YET TO TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT TO TOP IT OFF THE WARRANTY IS OUT. LOCAL MECHANICS WILL NOT ATTEMPT TO TOUCH IT! SOMEONE PLEASE START A RECALL OR A TSB!
Steering, Feb 12, 2018
UPON DRIVING THERE IS A CLANKING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING WHEEL ADVISE BY MECHANIC THAT HE WAS AWARE OF THIS NOISE AND THAT TO CONTACT KIA AS THERE WAS A RECALL LOOKED UP AND ADVISED BY KIA NO. AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AS IT SOUNDS THAT THE STEERING WHEEL IS GOING TO COME OFF
Electrical system, Structure, Service brakes, Feb 7, 2018
12/28/17 PURCHASED CAR FROM KIA DEALERSHIP. 1/27/18 I WAS DRIVING APPROX 50 MPH DOWN A COUNTY ROAD AND THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDSHIELD PANELLING FLEW OFF. THE PASSENGER SIDE IS LOOSE AS WELL. I AM TOLD NO WAY TO SECURE PASSENGER SIDE IT JUST HAS TO BE REPLACED AS WELL. ALSO NOTICED A LOUD SCREECHING COMING FROM DRIVER SIDE EVERY TIME I APPLY THE BRAKE. 2/3/18 NEIGHBOR WAS DRIVING BEHIND ME DOWN A CITY STREET AND CALLED TO TELL ME REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE APPEARED WOBBLY. 2/6/18 DEALERSHIP SAID BAD WHEEL BEARING AND REPLACED BUT STILL HAD NOT ORDERED PANELLING. ALSO SAID NOISE WAS FINE IT WAS JUST CAUSED BY METALLIC STRUCTURE OF BRAKES AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH IT. 2/7/18 THE STEREO WILL TURN ON BUT EVERYTHING IS BACK TO FACTORY PRESETS AND NO SOUND COMES OUT OF SPEAKERS.
Steering, Feb 6, 2018
STEERING IS LOOSE AND MAKES CLUNK SOUND. CALLED KIA AND SAID NO RECALLS????? OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS A ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2018
BACKUP CAMERA STOPPED WORKING JUST OUT OF WARRANTY.
Electrical system, Structure, Engine, Feb 4, 2018, fire
2012 KIA SOUL WITH LESS THAN 15,000 MILES ON IT SUDDENLY BURST INTO FLAMES AND THE CAR IS A TOTAL LOSS .
Steering, Jan 31, 2018
MY STEERING IS CLUNKY AND HAS A LOT OF MOVEMENT-PLAY I TOOK IT TO MY DEALER AND HE TOLD ME I HAVE TO REPLACE PARTS FOR MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY BUT WITH AFTER RESEARCHING THIS I WOULD ASSUME THAT KIA WOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS AS IT IS A DANGEROUS FUNCTION TO GO WRONG
Steering, Jan 23, 2018
2012 KIA SOUL WITH 20,000 MILES: STEERING MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS A LOT OF PLAY IN IT. EVEN WHEN SITTING STILL, THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A CLUNKING NOISE AND HAS TOO MUCH PLAY. WHEN DRIVING IT ALSO HAS PLAY AND MAKES CLUNKING NOISE. OTHER KIA SOULS HAVE RECALLS, THIS YEAR SHOULD ALSO.
Structure, Dec 20, 2017
HOOD BLEW BACK BROKE MY WINDSHIELD AND BENT MY FENDERS BROKE MY THE SECONDARY LATCH IS BENT AND THE LOCK DID NOT HOLD
Steering, Dec 12, 2017
ABOUT THREE WEEKS AGO, WHILE SITTING IN THE CAR LETTING IT WARM UP AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE CITY STREETS I HEARD A CLUNCKING SOUND IN THE STERERING COLUMN WHEN TURING LEFT AND RIGHT AND THE SOUND IS PRESENT CURRENTLY. I AM AFRAID THE STEERING WHEEL WILL LOCK UP OR COME OFF WHILE I AM DRIVING!
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Nov 27, 2017
DASHBOARD LIGHTS CAME ON AND CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD CAR TOWED TO KIA OF BOWIE MD., WHO DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND REPLACED ELECTRICAL PANEL WHICH COST ESTIMATED $200.00 DOLLARS INCLUDING DIAGNOSTIC. KIA OF BOWIE NEVER CALLED AND WHEN I FINALLY CONTACTED SOMEONE A WEEK LATER, THEY STATED THE STEERING COLUMN WAS OUT AND WOULD COST APPROXIMATE $2000.00 AND THAT'S THE PART. CAR HAS ONLY 70.000 MILES.
Steering, Nov 27, 2017
THE STEERING WHEEL IS LOOSE WITH MUCH "PLAY" IN STEERING AND A CLICKING NOISE FROM THE STEERING LOCK. THIS HAPPENS BOTH STATIONARY WITH THE CAR ON IN PARK AND WHEN DRIVING. THE VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN BRAKING. I DO NOT HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER THE STEERING. WHEN I BRAKE AT SPEEDS OVER ABOUT 30MPH. I HAVE HAD ALIGNMENT DONE AND SUSPENSION CHECKED AND IT IS NOT APPARENTLY THE ISSUE. I NOW HAVE A LOUD RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN I TURN LEFT OR RIGHT. THE CLICKING AND LOOSENESS AND RUBBING NOISE IS PRESENT WHEN THE CAR IS IDLE OR BEING DRIVEN IN CITY OR HIGHWAY.
Service brakes, Nov 24, 2017
THE SIDE BRAKES DO NOT ILLUMINATE SO THE SAFETY OF YOURSELF AND OTHERS ARE AT RISK. WENT OUT WITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGNS OF FAILURE. THIRD LIGHT WORKS FINE ON TOP.